New Farmer’s Market at Sunset Place Around Town
upsets Saturday market organizers Recall Who?
BY RAQUEL GARCIA

BY MICHAEL MILLER

Executive Editor

A

lthough the city sponsored
South Miami Farmer’s
Market has been offering
locally grown organic produce directly from farmers for nearly two
years now, Commissioner Valerie Newman
recently sent an email welcoming what
appears to be a direct competitor to the
area.
The
Marketing
Company
Marketplace at Shops of Sunset Place
opened on a recent Saturday offering “fresh
local produce, prepared foods, orchids,
plants and other fine crafts” according to
the flyer sent as an attachment in
Newman’s email.
Commissioner Newman said during a
phone interview that she had nothing to do
with bringing the new market to Sunset
Place. “This is a private enterprise. I will
say I welcome the market. They will have

––––– See

FARMER’S MARKET, page 4

The Farmer’s Market at City Hall on a sunny Spring afternoon.

Murray Pool Plan trickles along after special meeting
BY RAQUEL GARCIA

T

Pool schematics submitted by various builders over the years

he city commission
recently held a special
meeting on the Murray
Pool proposal and
passed a resolution 4 to 1 (with
Commission Valerie Newman dissenting) providing direction to Di
Pompeo Construction Corporation
on design concepts and operational
cost efficiencies. Although it
appeared the progress of the meeting
could be derailed by the incessant
front row chatter of anti-pool
activists and Newman’s objections to
issues not related to the agenda, the

body managed to stay focused during
the two hour meeting to crystallize
the essentials desired to make the
Murray Pool project move ahead.
President
of
Di
Pompeo
Construction, John Di Pompeo,
showed up 45 minutes late prompting Vice Mayor Josh Liebman to
question whether or not they could
handle project deadlines if they were
unable to make discussion meetings
on time. Project architect Robert E.
Chisholm offered commissioners
apologies for the tardiness and presented non-cost specific generalities
–––––––––––––––––––––– See

POOL, page 6

When the rumors started flying regarding
alleged recall efforts to
remove a certain city
commissioner
from
office, I surmised the public servant in question
would obviously be our very own court
jester, I mean comedian, I mean commissioner, Bob Welsh. The Florida Ethics
Commission recently picked up the complaint regarding potential misconduct filed
by city manager Hector Mirabile (see communitynewspaper.com/southmiami) suggesting Bobblehead Bob is interfering with
the city manager’s job by having unsanctioned conversations with potential pool
operators while Mirabile is negotiating on
the Murray Pool project. Welsh has also
been accused of breaking the Florida in the
Sunshine Law and breaching the “cone of
silence” for discussing confidential contractor negotiations in public forums. But,
alas, it seems Bicycle Bob is peddling in
circles like a gerbil in a cage to try and
deflect the attention from his latest misadventures. According to long time resident

–––––– See

AROUND TOWN, page 4

ALL TYPES OF COVERAGE
FROM OVER 100 TRUSTED,
COMPETITIVE, INSURERS

305.238.1000

Savings & Service Since 1950

Page 2

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

May 1 - 14, 2012

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

The Law firm of Alexander P. Almazan P.A.
Provides specialized workers compensation defense, real estate title and
closing services with a focus on personal attention, communication and our
clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bottom line. With experienced and knowledgeable people we are able
to provide excellent legal and title services you and your company deserve.
We serve all Florida counties making our firm, your only destination.

Real Estate Services
Whether you are a buyer,
seller, lender, servicer or asset
management company our office
has the experience you need
to insure the integrity of your
real estate transaction.

Workers Compensation Defense
With over 35 years of combined experience,
our workers compensation staff has seen
the landscape of workers compensation
changesand various legislative changes.

AROUND TOWN, from page 1
ventures. According to long time resident David
Walker, Bobnoxious approached him to speak
about the possibility of removing Commissioner
Valerie Newman from office. Welsh had no comment when asked by South Miami News about
his alleged recall efforts. But Commissioner
Valerie Newman did. Calling his actions laughable, Newman said she took no stock whatsoever in what Welsh may or may not be attempting
to do and that the true recall efforts should be
aimed at retiring Bob and his bike.
NO HOLE IN THE WALL

Mario Yanez of Earth Learning not for profit organization supervising operations at the original city hall
farmer’s market
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

vendors from all over the county. I voted
for the (original) farmer’s market to get
started in the first place but it was a mistake. Claire Tomlin runs a total business
enterprise.”
Tomlin’s The Market Company is a private business based in Miami Beach with
as many as 15 locations in the greater
Miami area during high season. She also
produces the farmer’s market in Pinecrest
and was one of the potential operators
reviewed during the request for proposal
(rfp) process by the city in 2010 when
Mario Yanez’s Earth Learning not for profit organization was chosen as operator.
“The Marketing Company withdrew
from the rfp process because they said they
could not do the things that we are doing,”
said Yanez. “Theirs is not a farmer’s market, it is a flea market and there are no
farmers involved and no sense of the values that have to do with local food. It is just
a business that will have vendors and there
is no criteria like for the quality we offer.”
Vice Mayor Josh Liebman said he
brought up the idea to move the existing
market to the Sunset Place location at a
farmer’s market committee meeting. When
the group expressed disinterest, Sunset
Place invited The Marketing Company over.
“It is in the nature of free market enterprise.
Claire is the best market operator, she has a
number of markets in the area and she is
going to capture people that are already
downtown.” Liebman also added that the
committee has had two years to get it right
and perhaps new leadership is necessary.
However according to the city appointed
Farmers Market Committee Chair, Annick
Sternberg, Newman and Liebman’s support for the new privately operated
farmer’s market was a bad decision. “They

are doing a disservice to the city. This is a
private corporation on private land in a private mall playing monopoly and profitizing the commons. They did not go through
the city appointed Farmer’s Market
Committee. We were not consulted and the
overall perspective (from the board) is that
this was forced upon us,” said Sternberg.
Sternberg agrees there are operational
concerns about Earth Learning’s management of the two year old farmer’s market on
“community land” (open Saturdays from
9am to 2pm) in the parking lot of city hall.
“Different ways of improving the market
are being explored,” said Sternberg.
Both Commissioners Newman and
Liebman are under the impression that the
original Farmer’s Market will be closing
permanently soon. According to Yanez
they may close for summer May 12 but
intend to start back again October 4.
“Last summer it was rough economically to run so we may close this summer.
Unless the city changes its plans, we will
be back in October for sure. The reason we
are here is to create community around
access to locally sustainable food, to show
it can be done,” said Yanez.
Tomlin could not say the percentage of
locally grown produce that will be available
at the Sunset Place market. She did state that
harvest from North Florida and South
Georgia will be added to the mix but that
local farmers are involved as well. “It is unrealistic to limit people to locally grown produce. If you don’t have lemons that are locally grown then you can’t make lemonade.”
Regarding the potential overlap and
competition with the current farmers market, Tomlin said “We have been welcomed
by several council people but evidently
there is a conflict in the community.”

Another possible new South Miami business
gets 86’ed. Co-owner of the popular Hole in the
Wall in Palmetto Bay (and former University of
Miami and NFL quarterback) Craig Erickson,
legally met all of the requirements for his possible
new location in the PetCo Shopping Center on SW
62 Ave and US1. The Planning Board recommended the special use request be granted for a general
restaurant. However the extremely well organized
NIMBY’s (not in my backyard) team scored the
big win at the recent public hearing. Citing motorcycles, buses, drunkards, and just about every
sociopathic behavior known to man might ensue if
the restaurant moved forward (which averages
approximately 75% food consumption according
to Erickson) the city commission appeared to have
no alternative but to heed the very vocal residents
who did not want their “quality of life” disrupted.
Vice Mayor Josh Liebman was the sole dissenting
vote. Hole in the Wall co-owner Sam Diedrick told
South Miami News they are weighing their appellate options since legally they met all the requirements. Our loss appears to be Cutler Bay’s win
because Hole in the Wall was warmly welcomed as
a new business in the community down south just
one week after getting the classic CAVEman (citizens against virtually everything) SoMi rejection.
MADISON SQUARE MIRRORS MURRAY POOL
After sitting in on a recent Madison Square
Project presentation I am pleased to report the
development seems to be moving forward nicely.
But the residents obviously and understandably
want more and they should get more. Though the
project has been discussed, re-discussed, digested,

Sharon McCain in costume at the last city commission
meeting
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
regurgitated, and again deliberated nearly as much
as the 50 plus year journey to make the Murray Pool
finally happen, it is not surfacing as the big area life
raft that it can be. Come on folks, let’s make
Madison Square a signature piece development the
city can be proud of, an exciting endeavor that can
raise the spirits of not only the African American
residents in the immediate community but all of
South Miami. This project is the perfect chance for
the city to keep that elusive spark of hope alive and
well for the possibilities of a brighter future and
improved quality of life (and tax base too).

GO SOUTH MIAMI HEAT
While Lebron James was resting his starter
self before the Eastern Conference playoffs
began, word around town is that he has been
busy with plans to open a restaurant right here
in our very own City of Pleasant Living.
Hoping to slam dunk a location right on SW 73
Street, we wish James a better score at city hall
than Erickson from Hole in the Wall received.
CONGRATULATIONS STATE ATTORNEY
Katherine Fernandez Rundle was recently
honored for her support of public school education by the Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High
School Parent Teacher Student Association at
the Newport Beachside Resort in Sunny Isles.
State Attorney Fernandez Rundle said she has
“always recognized the importance of investing
in education and providing educational support
to the children and youth of Miami-Dade
County.” Apparently lots of other notable community leaders have noticed her dedication as
well. Congratulations State Attorney!
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
Like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
Like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Langston Hughes

Two South Miami Landmark Businesses Celebrate Anniversaries
Gloria Burns
GLORIA’S GAB
In April Fox’s celebrated its 65th
anniversary with a festive party on their
outside terrace featuring live music by Van
Gogh Listens and lots of great food ,drink
and games like Pin the Tail on the Fox.
Chamber South was there in force enjoying the evening and celebrating Fox’s
milestone event. As the second oldest
restaurant in Miami Dade County, Fox’s
atmosphere and great food have made it a
survivor like few others. Among the many
faces enjoying the event were John
Edward Smith, Mary Scott Russell,
Martin Mendiola, Allison Bhagmandat,
Kent Crook, Rudy Munniz, Phil Lyons,
Diane Schiller, and Raquel Garcia, to
mention a few.
Also celebrating a big anniversary year
is First National Bank of South Miami,

now 60 years old. To commemorate this
milestone year, the Bank has invited the
community to join them for a free Family
Fair and Block Party outside the offices on
Sat., April 28th. Look for more on this
event in next issue.
On the non-profit/ service club scene,
Gulliver’s Interact Club tackled another
successful fundraising event. For the last
several years, Gulliver Prep’s Interact Club
(sponsored by the Rotary Club of Coral
Gables) has been producing a most entertaining Fashion Show that is the school’s
largest student-run fundraising event of the
year. This year’s affair raised several thousand dollars which the Club split between
three charities: Chapman Partnership,
Easter Seals and a new charity this year,
Give Kids the World (GKTW).
GKTW is a favorite charity of the
Westin Colonnade that raises funds every
year to help support this organization
responsible for providing children with life
threatening illnesses a week-long vacation
in the Orlando area with their entire families at no cost. On behalf of GKTW, the
Westin’s General Manager Mike Wurster
accepted a $2,000 check from the Gulliver
Interact Club. Gulliver’s Interact Club
President, Dillon Patel, and President
Elect Nicole Tuftss , who chaired the
Fashion Show, were invited to a lunch in
the 1862 Restaurant along with fellow
members Ravi Patel, Michael Pelle, and
Nicole Rubin as a small thank you to the
group for its support of GKTW. Executive
Chef Thomas Russo even prepared a special dessert for the occasion. As for Give
Kids the World, the Westin will hold an ice
cream breakfast this July to send additional support. Look for more on that in the
future. It is always a kid favorite.
Finally, Boys & Girls Clubs of MiamiDade’s first annual “Claws for Kids”
fundraising brunch is scheduled for Sun.,
May 6, 11:30 a.m. at Joe’s Stone Crab in
Miami Beach. Enjoy delicious large stone
crabs and other signature Joe’s cuisine
without the wait while supporting the Boys
& Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s new
11,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art South Beach
location.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
We will not return solicited or unsolicited material including stories, columns and/or photographs. If you send us anything, please make sure that you have duplicate copies of the material.
Every issue of the South Miami News is fully copyrighted, and all property rights, including
advertisements, produced by Community Newspapers and Miller Publishing. Using artwork and /or
typography furnished or arranged for/by us is the property of Community Newspapers.

MILLER PUBLISHING AND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
are proud to publish the following newspapers:

Diane Schiller, of Community Newspapers, with John
Edward Smith, of SOMI Magazine, at Fox’s
Anniversary bash.

Page 6

POOL, from page 1

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

––––––––––

while those in attendance awaited Di
Pompeo’s traffic delayed arrival.
Deadlines were germane to the discussion as the city is awaiting a response on a
requested extension for the $220,050 pool
grant that expired March 31, 2012. The primary Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) funding of $1,207,374 is
set to expire December 31, 2012 and like
last year, the commission anticipates
requesting another extension.
City Manager Hector Mirabile appeared
optimistic about the grant renewals as long
as substantial completion can be shown by
the December 31st deadline. “I am in contact with HUD (Department of Housing
and Urban Development) and they are
receptive,” said Mirabile. “They don’t
want to commit yet because they want to
see movement.” Mirabile’s office has
already sent a formal letter requesting an
extension on the March 31 deadline and are
waiting to hear back.
Concessions, canopies, tot lot amenities,
roofing, bathrooms, solar heating and a
myriad of other related issues were discussed and ultimately the decision was
made to eliminate the wading pool for toddlers, and keep the splash play area to 2000

Neighborhood
children from
the Gibson
Bethel
Community
Center After
School Program
enjoy a supervised lunch on
the future
Murray Park
pool site.

feet of the total 5000 feet maximum space
available for the main lap pool and entire
project. Additional parking was suggested
but according to the city manager is not a
grant stipulation.
Questions arose regarding a possible

reduction of the presented $1,369,499 bottom line from Di Pompeo since the wading
pool was eliminated. “Let me manage,”
said Mirabile. “Believe me, I am a penny
pincher, give me the budget and I will
make it work.”

May 1 - 14, 2012

Project architect Chisholm concurred
with Mirabile’s remarks regarding workable deadlines. “I have been in this business a long time and worked for HUD
directly for many years. I used to give out
grants such as these. As long as they see
that you are organized and moving along,
everything will be fine.”
Newman’s concerns seemed substantial
enough for Mirabile to encourage the commission to keep them in mind. She suggested the inspector general could potentially
audit monies spent sometime in the future if
allocation of dollars was not rigorously monitored within the constraints of the grant.
Di Pompeo alluded to a level of frustration from his team. “I bid on this project
four times. I have been here many times
and my people cost money. I don’t want to
price it if you don’t have the grant. I need
to redesign and do a full blown schematic.
I have no problem doing what you want me
to do but put yourself in my shoes.” To
which Vice Mayor Liebman responded,
“Welcome to South Miami.”
The revised plans are expected to arrive
on the city manager’s desk before the next
meeting. Mirabile anticipated another special meeting will be called afterward to continue to move the Murray Pool forward.
For more information on the (Murray)
Pool Project, call the City Manager’s office
at 305-668-2510.

More than 600 South Miami Hospital
employees united to celebrate their cultural diversity at the hospital’s recent
Cultures Come Alive Culture Fair.
Celebrated in the auditorium of the
Victor E. Clarke Education Center located on the hospital’s campus, the annual
event raises awareness of the more than
60 nations and cultures represented by
hospital employees.
From Colombia to China, Germany to
Guatemala, Pakistan to Poland and Spain
to Sweden — nearly 40 countries were
represented by participants who modeled
traditional cultural dress, displayed art
and handmade items, played music and
shared food.
South Miami Hospital’s chief nursing
officer, Kathy Sparger, RN, collaborated
with nurse manager Angela Montaque,
RN, chair of the hospital’s Culture and
Diversity Council, to organize the culture
fair as part of a larger initiative focusing
on cultural competency.
“Cultural competency is essential in
creating positive working relationships
with peers, patients, and physicians,”
Sparger said. “Cultures Come Alive is a
powerful way to enhance these relationships by increasing cultural knowledge

and embracing cultural diversity in the
workplace.”
Dressed in Scottish attire, John Shaw,
community representative, opened the celebration with the traditional sounds of bagpipes. During the parade of flags, cultural
ambassadors dressed in clothing native to
their homeland carried flags from around
the world.
Rebecca Vega, unit clerk in the
Cardiovascular Care Unit, united attendees when she sang the national anthem.
The tropical dance routine performed by
the Aloha Islanders Entertainers was one
of the highlights of this year’s celebration.
South Miami Hospital has been recognized by many in the healthcare community for its cultural diversity and enrichment programs that help employees learn
about the different cultures of the patients
for which they care.
Baptist Health South Florida, the hospital’s parent company, acknowledges
cultural diversity as an important organizational goal and has a corporate executive leading initiatives to ensure diversity
and a culture of inclusion. Baptist Health
topped the list of employers with the most
diversified staffs in terms of minorities,
according to Fortune magazine’s annual
ranking of U.S. corporations.

Community Newspapers

Page 8

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

May 1 - 14, 2012

Corpo Yoga celebrates two year anniversary with a full house
BY RAQUEL GARCIA

Cybele Chamas was busy traveling 75 percent of her time. Originally from Sao Paolo,
Brazil, she had put her finance degree from
the University of Miami and MBA from FIU
to work and become a successful corporate
executive. Then she got pregnant and everything changed.
Chamas decided to slow down and mindfully turn onto a new path. She transformed her
life-long passion for yoga into a successful
local business. Corpo (Latin for body) Yoga
recently celebrated their two year anniversary
with an open house event at the 9030 SW 72
Court location. It was a day full of live music,
yoga classes, special wellness give a ways,
food, and the donations from raffle tickets all
went to benefit the not for profit association
Family Research Center.
“This is a dream come true. I spent many
years in the corporate world working in telecommunications. When I got pregnant in 2007 I
thought, what am I going to do next?” said
Chamas. “I kept asking myself, what is it that I
really love and have been consistent and passionate about my entire life, and it was yoga.”
The downtown Dadeland location is a traditional yoga studio. “Yoga is originally
from India and thousands of years old. It is

Students practice in the studio during the two year
anniversary party
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

the most ancient practice of self-improvement still alive today. The postures or
‘asanas’ were intended as a way to stretch the

Proprietor of Corpo Yoga Cybele Chamas welcomes guests
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
body and improve flexibility to make medi- “It is as also a chance to escape the hustle
tation easier,” said Chamas.
and bustle to recharge.”
All 15 instructors have their Yoga Teacher
Chamas stresses that Corpo Yoga is a famTraining Certification and present each class with ily studio welcome to children. “Not only is
a holistic point of view that includes sharing a it a great way to release toxins, tone, and
spiritual message in a calm relaxing setting for relax, it is also good for people with injuries
the entire mind-body experience. Although there and children. Kids are stressed out these
are different styles, instructors all share the same days. For them it is a non-competitive environment that helps with self-esteem. They
common ground according to Chamas.
“We have three distinct styles that vary understand the meaning of breathing.
although each shares a commonality. Sometimes during shavasana (deep relaxing
Vinyasa is a moderately paced class where meditation) they will end up falling asleep
the movements will vary. Anusra has an because they are so relaxed, it’s so adorable.”
Although the anniversary celebration was
emphasis on alignment. Ashtanga is a very
physically challenging class that always has on a rainy Saturday it did not seem to keep
the same primary sequence of movements.”
anyone from being present. “I woke up at
The spiritual component of the practice is 4am to get ready for the anniversary and saw
to “open your heart and forgive yourself,” the weather and was concerned. Then I realsaid Chamas. The idea of being kind to your- ized that everyone who needed to be here
self is a central focus of Chamas’ work. With will be here and so it is. It’s a beautiful day
today’s intense multi-tasking and busy work and I am grateful.” To find out more about
and family environments, Chamas sees the Corpo Yoga visit corpoyogastudio.com or
advantages of yoga as beyond the physical. call 305-582-7772.

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Victor Dover named Fellow of American
Institute of Certified Planners

BY LEE STEPHENS

The American Institute of Certified
Planners, the governing body of the city planning profession in the United States, has named
South Miami resident Victor Dover a member
of its College of Fellows. The Fellows of
FAICP are the most esteemed planners in
active practice, are permitted to place the
“FAICP” insignia after their names, and are
mentors for upcoming generations of planners
and urbanists. This year’s class was inducted in
a black-tie ceremony in Los Angeles on April
15th, as part of the American Planning
Association’s national conference. According
to the APA, “Election to Fellow is one of the
highest honors that the American Institute of
Certified Planners bestows upon a member...
Victor Dover insists that planning return to its
roots as a humanist pursuit, the civic art.”
Dover is a principal in the firm of Dover,
Kohl & Partners Town Planning, an urban
design firm in South Miami / Coral Gables. He
is also a charter member of the Congress for the
New Urbanism (CNU), and currently serves as
its national chair. The CNU is the leading
organization promoting walkable, mixed-use
neighborhood development, sustainable communities and healthier living conditions.
Dover is also a founder of the Form-Based
Codes Institute, a think tank which promotes
reform of zoning and other development regulations, and was a founding board member
of the National Charrette Institute, a training
organization that teaches community leaders
and professionals to maximize public participation in decisions about city planning and
land development. He recently served on the
core committee that authored the LEED for
Neighborhood Development rating system
for certifying green development.
As young practitioners, Dover and Kohl
had their breakthrough assignment in South
Miami in 1992. They were the principal
authors of the city’s “Hometown Plan” for
downtown revitalization. That plan resulted in
a dramatic overhaul of the city’s development
rules, and in turn a revival of the downtown

Page 9

Annual Phantom Film Festival to
Premier at Gusman Center, May 12
BY JEFFREY ALAN

Victor Dover
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

economy. Where there were once boarded-up
shopfronts on the main street, today there are
tony restaurants, housing, broad pedestrian
promenades, and successful retail; along the
way, the downtown once again became the
social hub of the town. Dover and Kohl and
their team have gone on to produce awardwinning plans for cities, public agencies,
community groups and developers in 17
states and on six continents. These include
their recent Plan El Paso, which provoked a
report in Atlantic Cities on “How El Paso Got
America’s Best Smart Growth Plan.”
The pioneering work of Dover, Kohl &
Partners has since been featured on CNN, NPR,
in BusinessWeek, USAToday, and many other
media outlets. With his partner Joseph Kohl,
Victor Dover has produced plans for urban renaissance that are showcased in dozens of urban
planning textbooks. At present, Dover is at
work on a new textbook on Street Design.
Dover is married to architect (and
BikeSoMi advocate) Mari Chael. He is also
a veteran marathoner and Ironman triathlete.

The Design and Architecture Senior
High (DASH) 12th Annual Phantom Film
Festival will continue its tradition of student cinematic excellence at The Historic
Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for
the Performing Arts located at 174 East
Flagler Street, Miami on May 12, 2012 at 7
P.M. Tickets are $10 pre-sale at the school,
$10 at the door the night of the screening
or available through Ticketmaster,
http://www.ticketmaster.com/.
Since its humble beginnings 11 years ago
at the historic Lyric Theatre, DASH’s Annual
Phantom Film Festival has steadily grown.
“It is only through community and
industry support that we can continue to
provide our students with this amazing
opportunity in the cinematic arts that will
enrich their academic experience,” added
Tim Pike, Lead Film/Entertainment

Teacher at DASH.
For 11 years the DASH Annual Phantom
Film Festival has provided the
Film/Entertainment Technology students at
DASH with a public venue to showcase
their quality, award winning films.
The Phantom Film Festival also serves as
an important fundraiser. Proceeds from ticket sales serve multiple needs for scholarships to students continuing their education
in Film/Entertainment Technology (ET), it
gives DASH the opportunity to buy equipment and software to keep the Film/ET program current with college expectations.
DASH Film students continue to be
recruited and accepted into the top films
schools in the United States. A partial list
of colleges where alumni from the DASH
Film program are currently majoring in
film studies includes NYU Tisch, USC,
FSU, SVA, Miami-Dade, RIT, UNC Arts
and Art Center in Pasadena.

Relax in the Smoky Mountains!
SU

!

OMING

IS C
MMER

CLOUD 333

If you want to get away and find tranquility in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee...

CUSTOM SUITS • EXPERT ALTERATIONS
At John the Tailor our mission statement is
“to produce high quality men’s custom suits
and shirts that fit as close to perfect the very first time.
Also, we know how important alterations are to you,
and we offer the best alterations Miami has to offer.”
We have served the Miami community for over 28 years,
Call us to schedule an appointment, at:

(305) 667-8768

5609 South West 74th Street, South Miami
For more about this extraordinary family of tailors, visit:

www.johnthetailor.net

May 1 - 14, 2012

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page 11

Miracle League gets Marlins grant, new home
BY RAQUEL GARCIA

After two years of searching for the perfect spot to build a specialized baseball
field in Miami-Dade to serve the county’s
more than 30,000 physically and developmentally disabled children, the Howard
Palmetto Miracle League of Miami-Dade
has found a home at Tamiami Park and the
money to make it a reality.
Prior to the start of the Marlins-Astros
game at Marlins Park on Saturday, Apr. 14,
Miami Marlins president David Samson,
Marlins Foundation executive director
Alfredo Mesa, pitcher Heath Bell and
catcher John Buck presented a $100,000
check to Miracle League co-chairs, Keith
Reilly and Karl Sturge, and fundraising cochairs Lisa Mays and Sandy Robinson. The
endowment will help the organization
begin construction on its new home at
Tamiami Park.
“For 50 years the Howard Palmetto
Baseball Softball League has served many
of the boys and girls of our communities,
but special needs children are not being
served,” Sturge said. “Now we can close
the bridge and serve all the needs of the
county and these kids can be just like every
other child.”
Earlier, at the 2012 inaugural meeting of
the Miami-Dade Miracle League in
Pinecrest, foundation director Mesa
announced the gift.
“I’m here to share with you that you
have the Marlins Foundation’s commitment, our president David Samson and our
entire board, to help make this dream a
reality,” Mesa said.
At the same time, Miami-Dade Parks
and Recreation director Jack Kardys pinpointed the location of the specialized field
and playground complex.
“It is so rare that you find an organization (like the Miracle League of MiamiDade) that shares our commitment to pro-

viding services to the disabled in our community like we do,” Kardys said. “A yearand-a-half ago, Keith and Karl presented
this beautiful idea and video that hit me
right in the heart and brought tears to my
eyes, and I thought to myself, yes, this is
something that we can do.”
Kardys went on to relate the unique challenges encountered in finding just the right
field to suit the needs of the project.
“We finally settled on Tamiami Park
because, as many of you know, it is the
center of the universe for competitive baseball,” he said. “The configuration is going
to be on the west side of the park where we
have the capacity to handle the needs of the
disabled.”
Keith Reilly, former president of the

Howard Palmetto Baseball Softball
Association and current co-chair of the
Miracle League of Miami Dade, said the
Tamiami Park location was perfect.
“We looked all over the county for the
ideal location for the baseball field,” he
said. “It had to be centrally located in the
county, near a major highway, with hotels
and a medical facility close by.”
During his presentation, Reilly noted
that the Tamiami Park field is situated precisely in the middle of the county.
“We are thrilled to be a partner with the
Miami Marlins in this truly worthwhile
project,” Sturge said. “This spring the
Marlins opened their stadium to great fanfare and they have been tremendously supportive to our endeavor and, equally

important, to special needs children.
“With the partnership of the Marlins and
Miami-Dade County Parks, we are in the
initial phase of fundraising and our goal is
to finish the field in spring 2013. But we
will have Miracle League games running
before then on existing baseball fields
across the county. Any special needs families interested in participating should contact us.”
The first Miracle League began in
Atlanta in 2000. Today there are 255
Miracle League organizations around the
world serving more than 250,000 children
and young adults with disabilities.
For more information, call 786-2244800 or go online to <www.miracleleagueofmiamidade.org>.

Page 12

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

May 1 - 14, 2012

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page 13

Commissioner Bell tours industries in her district
BY MAURICE R. HERNANDEZ

Building on her successful “Work Days”
program, Miami-Dade Commissioner Lynda
Bell recently toured Silver Wings Aerospace
Inc. and the Sea Hunter Boat Company,
emphasizing her commitment to recognize
small businesses in her district, learn about
the continuing challenges they face in this
depressed economy and what local government can do to help them succeed.
Commissioner Bell also is working with
the Beacon Council to help provide incentives to small businesses like these so they
can grow and thrive in the South MiamiDade area. These two small commercial
businesses, both owned by the Montalvo
Family, have proven themselves to their
respective industries and are successfully
creating top-of-the-line products for their
customers, as well as creating quality,
much-needed jobs for area residents.
“Silver Wings Aerospace and Sea Hunter
Boat Company are prime examples of successful small businesses that exist in our
area which are not only seeking to survive
but to thrive and even expand their operations to deliver quality products and services, despite one of the worst economic cli-

mates since the Great Depression,”
Commissioner Bell said.
“I applaud their steadfast commitment
and dedication to their craft, our community and their support of our local economy
by creating critically important employment opportunities for our local residents,”
the commissioner added.
Silver Wings Aerospace Inc., founded by
Eddie Montalvo in 2007 and located in
Princeton, is a fast-growing aviation parts company as well as a Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) repair station. Silver
Wings has commercial airline customers from
North America, Europe, Asia, and South
America and faces global competition. The
company currently employs 20 workers and
intends to grow to 100 over the next five years.
Sea Hunter Boat Company, founded in
2002 by Ralph Montalvo and also located
in Princeton, is a local manufacturer of high
performance boats between 18 feet and 48
feet. Sea Hunter uses the most advanced
materials and techniques to make the best
riding boat in the industry. Sea Hunter has
exported its products all over the world and
it employs 60 workers. The company is
aggressively seeking to expand in order to
meet the intense demand of its customers.

Page 14

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

May 1 - 14, 2012

Israel Film Festival May 2-10
at Frank Intracoastal Cinemas
BY GARY SPRINGER

Enriching the American vision of Israeli
life and culture through the powerful medium
of film, the Israel Film Festival definitively
has become the largest showcase of Israeli
films in the United States. Running May 210, this 26th anniversary year celebrates the
finest of Israeli cinema, encompassing more
than 25 dynamic titles, including award-winning feature films and documentaries.
The Opening Night Gala Salsa
Celebration, co-sponsored by the Israel
Ministry of Tourism and Isram Realty

Group, will begin with a red carpet reception at Rouge Waterfront Dining and then
will proceed to the Frank Intracoastal
Cinemas, 3701 NE 163 St. in North Miami
Beach, for the awards presentation and
Florida premiere screening of Salsa Tel
Aviv. The Israel Film Festival is presented
in association with the Consulate General
of Israel in Florida and Puerto Rico.
Prior to the film screening, the 2012 IFF
Career Achievement and Lifetime Career
Achievement Awards will be presented to
Salsa Tel Aviv stars Angélica Vale and
Angélica María, respectively.

The Alhambra Orchestra, with principal
conductor Alfred Gershfeld, presents the
three amazing young winners of its annual
concerto competition on Sunday, May 13, 7
p.m., at Ransom-Everglades School, 3575
Main Hwy. in Coconut Grove.
They are Ransom-Everglades student
Annabel Chyung, a 15-year-old violinist
who serves as co-concertmistress of the
Greater Miami Youth Symphony, and sisters Michelle Yu and Kerstin Yu, both students at Cypress Bay High School and
members of the Florida Youth Orchestra.
Kerstin, 14, took first place with a

Beethoven piano concerto. Her sister
Michelle, 15, will perform the Tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto, and Annabel Chyung will
perform the beloved Mendelssohn Violin
Concerto. Each will have full orchestral
accompaniment.
The program also will feature Brahms’
Hungarian Dance No. 5, Rossini’s
Overture to The Barber of Seville, and portions of Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suite.
There is free admission (donations
requested) and free parking. No reservations are needed except that large groups
should call in advance. For information,
call 305-668-9260 or visit online at
<www.alhambramusic.org>.

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Pamper the one you

Page 15

ORYH

Give mom the gift of relaxation. This Mother’s Day, treat her to over
100 spa treatments and services, including refreshing facials, Ayurvedic
therapies and stress-reducing body treatments-along with access to a world
of gorgeous pools, a state-of-the-art ﬁtness facility, steam rooms, saunas
and hydrotherapies. Share the love with a gift card for The Spa at Doral.
Call 305.717.6303 for spa reservations or to purchase a gift card.
Gift cards are also available at The Spa at Doral or doralgifts.com.

New MADD initiative challenges parents to speak up to save kids
BY RAQUEL GARCIA

It started out as just another Friday night
when 18-year-old Sean Holmes put on his
Walkman and went out the front door of his
house to stroll over to the nearby technical
school and get a haircut. Two days later his
parents would discover his body in some
nearby bushes because of the impact of the
car that hit him.
As a result of this experience, his mother
Diane Holmes began the first chapter of
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) in
Miami-Dade County in October 1983, five
months after Sean’s death.
Holmes and MADD executive director
Janet Mondshein, in partnership with Miami
Palmetto High School principal Allison
Harley and area municipalities, recently conducted a press conference at the school to
introduce “Power Talk 21” a national day on
Apr. 21 for parents to talk with children
about alcohol.
Although annual drunk driving related
deaths have gone down since MADD’s 1980
inception from approximately 30,000 annually to 10,000, according to Mondshein, the
numbers have been flat in recent years. Two
decades of research led to a shift in focus to
the need for heightened parent interaction
with their kids about the dangers of drinking
alcohol.
“Statistics prove that kids are very much
influenced by their parents,” said Helen
Witty, program specialist for MADD. “The
real astounding thing is the majority of teens
get their alcohol from other adults and a
fourth from their parents, or from someone
else in the family. Because three in four children also say they make the decision to drink
based on the influence of their parents, this is
a parent program to empower, inform and
encourage communication.”
Perhaps if the adults who were partying
with the kids at a home in Gables By The Sea
had had a few conversations with their children about drinking rather than condoning it
as Witty attested happened that fateful June
16, 2000, her daughter Helen Marie Witty

Posterboard shows
victims
who lost their
lives as a result
of drunk drivers.

might still be alive today.
While 16-year-old Witty roller-bladed on a
bike path, an impaired 17-year-old (who was
also on her cell phone) hit young Witty and
killed her instantly. In a story similar to that
of mother Diane Holmes who began the
Miami-Dade MADD Chapter, the experience
launched mom Helen Witty into a future of
activism with MADD.
“Helen was a student here at Palmetto and
a thespian in Drama Troupe 1298 when it
happened. The kids have done a walk for her
(Walk for Witty) and raised over $15,000 for
MADD. We also have a scholarship in her
name and every year we give at least one,
sometimes two to three, to a drama student in
her honor,” Helen Witty said.
Palmetto student and president of Students
Against Drunk Driving (SADD) Sebastian
Siclait also spoke at the press conference.
“With the work we had done for the Walk
for Witty I was familiar with the issues and
[in addition to the loss of Helen Witty] we
recently lost alumnus Andrew Parker. A lot
of people knew him. We re-established the
SADD chapter here because it is the perfect
program for us to have to educate students.”
Prior to the conclusion of the speakers and
after the proclamations were read, Major
Gerald Kitchell of Miami-Dade Schools
Police gripped the audience of approximately 100 students, law enforcement officials,
parents, and educators with his final words.
“We are approaching prom season and we
are about to have graduations,” Maj. Kitchell
said. “Parents, students, and families together have worked for years for this great time
of celebration. We want to challenge parents
to have that conversation now before there’s
a night out. We want to make sure it is an
enjoyable, responsible time and that there is
a time after graduation.”
To receive a complimentary copy of
MADD Parent Handbook for Talking with
Teens about Alcohol call 305-273-3744 or
305-273-7122 for victim advocacy. To
download Power of Parents Handbook visit
the website at <www.madd.org/powerofparents>.

Hunger in America? Believe it! In
many ways, America is the land of plenty, but for one in six people in the United
States, hunger is a reality.
Today, nearly 49 million Americans,
including 16 million children, are struggling with hunger. These often are hardworking adults, children and seniors who
simply cannot make ends meet and are
forced to go without food for several
meals, or even days.
On Saturday, May 12, the United
States Postal Service will team up with
its letter carriers to conduct
the
annual
Stamp
Out
Hunger food
drive across
the nation to
collect
food
donations in
order to provide assistance
to the millions
of Americans
who are struggling
with
hunger each and every day.
“The Postal Service is pleased to continue
supporting
the
National
Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
as we enter our 20th year together to
help Stamp Out Hunger in America,”
said Postmaster General Patrick
Donahoe. “I am confident the 2012 campaign will be our best ever because the
need continues to grow.”
The nation’s 210,000 letter carriers

will collect food donations left at the
mailboxes of generous Americans in
more than 10,000 communities and
deliver them to food banks and other
hunger relief organizations.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this
year, the Stamp Out Hunger food drive
is the nation’s largest single-day food
drive, having collected more than one
billion pounds of food since its inception in 1993. In 2011, generous
Americans donated 70.2 million
pounds of food, which marked the
eighth consecutive year that at least 70
million pounds were collected.
Helping
Stamp
Out
Hunger is as
easy as checking your mailbox. Just leave
a bag of nonperishable
food
where
your letter carrier normally
delivers your
mail
on
Saturday, May
12. Your letter
carrier will then pick up and deliver the
food to a local food bank.
Examples of non-perishable items
include: Canned soup; canned meats and
fish; canned vegetables, fruits and juices;
boxed goods (such as cereal), pasta and
rice.
For more information about the annual
Stamp Out Hunger food drive, ask your
letter carrier, contact your local post office
or visit <www.helpstampouthunger.com>.

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page 21

Page 22

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

May 1 - 14, 2012

Locks of Love receives
gift from 15-year-old

Barry Neal is shown before his donation (left) and
after (above).
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

BY LEE STEPHENS

Barry Neal, a 15-year-old Palmetto Bay
resident, had long hair — very long hair.
After growing it for over two years, it
reached a length well beyond his shoulders, way down to the middle of his back.
When Neal learned of Locks of Love, a
non-profit organization that accepts donations of human hair in order to make hairpieces for economically disadvantaged
children suffering from long-term diseases
that result in hair loss, he visited the organization’s website.
Then, after downloading the donation
form, Neal visited Great Clips, a new location in West Kendall owned by franchisee
Carlos Rivera. This salon, located at 14681
SW 104 St. (in the Shoppes at 104),
donates haircutting service for people who
donate their hair to Locks for Love.
Great Clips stylist Benita Alonso care-

fully separated Neal’s hair into several
bundles, securing each with tightly wound
rubber bands. She then measured and cut
each hair bundle, resulting in four 12-inch
sections for donation. Rivera immediately
collected the donation, packaging it very
carefully, and placing it into a shipping box
destined for Locks of Love.
Rivera said that he had only been open a
few weeks at that time, but already had
seen several people come in to donate their
hair. He said that all of them were young,
but Neal was the youngest donor he had
seen at his salon.
When asked why he decided to cut his
hair after growing it for so long, Neal said
that he did it in order to make the donation.
Locks of Love still is looking for hair
donations, with a minimum required length
of 10 inches of hair available to cut. More
information is available online at
<www.locksoflove.org>.

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Children’s Bereavement Center
celebrates its spring fundraiser

It’s like a Cruise Ship, but withouttthe water...
Measure a Senior Living Community by
More Than Just Square Footage
BY HELEN SHAHAM

The Children’s Bereavement Center
(CBC) recently celebrated its annual
spring fundraiser, “Rockin’ on the Green,”
at Ransom Everglades Middle School in
Coconut Grove.
More than 400 CBC supporters from the
community enjoyed an evening of fine
food, cocktails, live music, and silent/live
auctions. Guest emcees were Lonnie
Quinn, former Miami weatherman who
now is with WCBS in New York City, and
Roxanne Vargas of NBC6 Miami.
The event was an opportunity for the
community to come together and learn
about the services of the Children’s
Bereavement Center and support its mis-

sion to help families adjust to life after loss
of a loved one.
The CBC has been providing peer support groups in the community since 1999
and this year expanded its services to
Miami Shores in partnership with VITAS
Hospice. They plan to offer groups in
Broward County beginning in September.
The CBC is South Florida’s only nonprofit bereavement and resource center
helping children and their families after
loss. The CBC provides free support
groups for almost 450 family members
monthly.
Information, grief resources and sponsorship opportunities can be found by visiting <www.childbereavement.org> or by
calling 305-668-4902.

Page 23

Q. My parents have lived in
their big home for over 50
years. Recently, due to deteriorating health and safety
concerns, my sister and I
decided that our parents’
best option is to move to a
senior living community.
After touring several communities, my parents’ main objection is the size
of the apartments. They do not want to downsize
even though they have not “visited” most of the
rooms in their big house for months, as they
mostly live in their bedroom and kitchen. How
can we convince them to move?
A. First, validate their concerns! It is truly
extremely emotionally difficult to leave your
large home, filled with memories and cherished
possessions, and to consider moving to the
“unknown”.
Therefore, initially, I would suggest making the move on a “trial basis”. Close the home
for a year (or rent it out) and help them move to
a senior living community—just to “try it out”.
If, after a year, your parents won’t like it, they
can always return
home. The fact that
it is not permanent,
that there is “a way
back”, will reduce
their
anxieties.
Don’t worry; most
people, after they
move, say: “I wish I would’ve done it sooner”.
Why? Because only after they move they
begin to realize that they gained much more than
they lost by giving up the square footage they
were so concerned about initially. They (and
you!) gained the warm feeling of security &
peace of mind; a care-free lifestyle, socialization
opportunities, and the friendship of others. Life
is interesting again. You will be surprised to
learn that their initial concerns about “square
footage” will not even be mentioned…because a
senior living community is so much more than
square footage!
But you will still have to convince them to
do the first step, even if only temporarily.
So, tell them to think about a cruise ship.
People hardly ever mention the size of their
cabin when they return from a cruise. Instead,
they talk about the lifestyle and fun they had on
board.
It’s much the same at senior living communities. There’s an entire world beyond the residents’ front door. From beautifully decorated
common areas to an embracing library with
computers (and people to teach them how to
navigate in them) to state-of-the-art fitness center, there are so many areas to enjoy.
At our newest community currently under
construction, The Palace at Coral Gables, we’ve
dedicated 21,000 square feet to public spaces
including a staged-theater with dance floor and
an oversized movie screen (even with special
earphones for those who are hard-of-hearing) , a

stunning Plaza, a beautiful café & piano bar,
cards & games rooms (and people to play
with…), spacious terraces, a magnificent indoor
heated pool & Jacuzzi, a full-service beauty
salon, a gym, a Clinic, a physical therapy department and an elegant dining room, to name a few.
Soon your parents will realize that their
new “home” is more than just their apartment.
Their new “home” is the entire community.
Their apartment is their “Luxury Suite” as was
their bedroom in their big house. The public
spaces are an extension of their apartment and
are available for them to enjoy anytime, as they
please.
Your parents may also be concerned that
their new home might mean saying goodbye to
family & holiday dinners. Again, most communities have private dining rooms that can be
reserved for special occasions & family functions so there’s never a reason to miss a celebration. Plus, mom and dad will no longer have to
be burdened with grocery shopping or cooking
the meal. This means that there’ll be even more
time for families to spend together!
Back to the downsizing issue:
At The Palace at Coral Gables, all the apartment floor plans were carefully created to be
comfortable & functional. We built real size
models so we could experience the functionality
of the space, accessibility, “traffic” patterns,
storage spaces, etc. Every detail was studied
carefully.
Obtain the detailed floor plans (with
dimensions) to help your parents decide what
furniture to take with them. Or, ask for assistance by the community’s move-in coordinator
who can also refer you to experienced relocation companies.
Once your parents are able to view the
entire community as their home, they’ll realize
they actually have much more space. Plus, with
the maintenance-free lifestyle offered by the
senior living communities, they don’t ever have
to worry about repairs or upkeep. Without the
burdens of coordinating their schedules with the
cable company, the pool guy, or repair technician, they’ll find they also have much more
time. Time that they can now spend doing what
they really enjoy… and then they will get it:
It’s more than just an apartment; it’s more
than square footage…it’s a wonderful lifestyle!
Helen Shaham, together with her husband, Jacob, has
been operating Senior Living Communities for more
than 30 years. The Palace Suites in Kendall is a luxury Independent Living Community for active seniors. In addition, The Palace at Kendall campus is
home to two Assisted Living Residences and a
Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. They also operate
The Palace Gardens, Assisted Living Community in
Homestead, Homestead Manor Nursing Home and
The Palace @ Home, a Medicare Certified Home
Health Agency. Their two latest projects are The
Palace at Weston – Luxury Living for Those 55 and
Over and Palace Tel-Aviv, a Continuing Care
Retirement Community in Israel. Currently under
construction is The Palace at Coral Gables, which is
now taking reservations at the Information Center
located at 16 Miracle Mile. See it at
www.PalaceCoralGables.com or call 305-445-7444
for more information.

Symphonettes, a girls high school community service club, conducted its annual
fashion show during April in conjunction
with a silent auction that raised more than
$7,000 that will be donated to various charitable organizations in the community.
The 2012 fashion show was hosted by
Macy’s at the prestigious Epic Hotel and
more than 100 auction items were donated
by businesses from throughout MiamiDade County. The fashion show was organized by Hallee Meltzer, a junior at the
School for Advanced Studies, and Megan
Mers, a junior at Ransom Everglades. The
auction was organized by Cara and Tesi
Zito, Morgan Mills and Kaylee Fantis,
sophomores at Gulliver Prep.
The Symphonettes work throughout the
year to organize a wide range of fundraising activities. These efforts have benefited
organizations such as the Greater Miami
Youth Symphony, Florida Youth
Orchestra, Homeless Assistance Center
and Miami Children’s Chorus. Working
together with businesses and charitable
organizations in the community, the
Symphonettes demonstrate leadership,
initiative and commitment.
Collectively, Symphonettes members

perform more than 1,500 community service hours, volunteering their time to organizations such as Fairchild Tropical
Gardens, South Dade Cultural Center and
the Beaux Arts Festival.
The fashion show recognizes the senior
members of Symphonettes. These talented
young women will attend top colleges next
year, including Harvard, Southern
Methodist University, Duke and North
Carolina. This year’s seniors are Rebecca
Bartleson, Dana Brown, Catalina Cuervo,
Savannah Chiavacci, Emily Eckblom,
Lindsay Kerdyk, Caroline Murphy (president), Ellie Newman, Amanda Quinones
and Amanda Roberts.
Symphonettes is a community service
club of high school girls dedicated to
enriching music and the arts in MiamiDade County. A charitable tax-exempt
organization made possible through the
Coral Gables Foundation, the club was
founded in 1966 for the purpose of promoting music and arts appreciation throughout
the community. Symphonettes members
represent a variety of public and private
high schools in the community including
Gulliver Prep, Ransom Everglades, New
World School of the Arts, Palmer Trinity,
Palmetto High, Miami Arts Charter, Coral
Gables High and Lourdes Academy.

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page 25

Homestyle Cuban Food
From New York to Miami
Family owned and operated for over 30 years!

We have something special for everyone. Fine antiques to contemporary pieces. Find one piece or decorate your entire room!
In the Famous Warehouse District by the Falls next to Battaglia Shoes
Rita Schwartz- Owner

8845 SW 132 St. • Miami, FL 33176

Open: Monday to Friday 10:30am - 6pm • Sat. & Sun. 10am - 5pm

www.upscalefurnitureconsignmentgallery.com

305.491.5651

info@upscalefurnituregallery.com

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Pollo Tropical conducts program
honoring teachers during May
BY ASHLEY WOJNAR

Pollo Reward$, the loyalty rewards program of Pollo Tropical, is honoring teachers throughout May with its Pollo
Tropical Teachers of the Year campaign.
Fifteen winning treachers from 15
counties, including Miami-Dade, will win
free Pollo Tropical for a year by earning
the most nominations from students and
parents in their respective county.
Additionally, the school in each county
generating the most nominations will win
a $500 Pollo Tropical donation to its student activities fund.
Those who nominate also win. Just by
nominating their favorite teacher, customers are rewarded with a free small
Pollo Tropical Tropichop with any drink
purchase.
Parents can nominate any teacher in any
county where Pollo Tropical companyowned restaurants serve simply by logging
onto
Pollo
Reward$
at
<www.PolloTropical.com/MyTeacher>.

Enrollment in Pollo Reward$ is
required to nominate a teacher.
Nominations must include the
teacher’s full name, school name,
school address, school phone number
and the subject and grade taught by the
nominated teacher.
Each county where Pollo Tropical
serves will have a winner.
“Pollo Tropical and its Teachers of the
Year campaign honors and rewards teachers and active schools, parents and students,” said Kim Miller, vice president of
Marketing and Communications for Pollo
Tropical. “We hope all
of our customers join us in celebrating
our teachers and enjoying a well-deserved
reward.”
Nominations will be accepted until 5
p.m. on Tuesday, May 31.
All public, private or charter school
teachers are eligible.
For more information about the Pollo Tropical
Teachers of the Year contest, visit online at
<www.PolloTropical.com/MyTeacher>.

In partnership with the Archaeological
Society of Southern Florida, the Deering
Estate at Cutler presents a free lecture on
the second Thursday of each month.
The next lecture — “Living Cultural
Heritage in Korea” presented by Dr.
Annette Fromm — is scheduled for May
10 at 7 p.m. in the Visitor Center
Auditorium at the Deering Estate at Cutler,
16701 SW 72 Avenue. The lectures are free
and open to the public.
During the past seven years Dr. Fromm
has traveled to many locations in South
Korea. She had the opportunity to travel as
president of the International Committee
for Museums of Ethnography. For the past
four years she has served on the committee
for the International Journal of Intangible
Heritage. Meeting yearly for a week in
February, the committee members are taken
to locations in South Korea to see a variety
of museums and living cultural heritage.
Dr. Fromm’s lecture will cover displays
and exhibits from her travels.
The Deering Estate at Cutler, a Miami-

Dade County Park, is located at 16701 SW
72 Ave. This 444-acre natural and archeological preserve and historic site is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places
and serves as a center for education, culture and recreation.
Historic house tours are offered daily at
10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. with admission to the
estate. EcoAdventure Tours also are offered
throughout the year for an additional fee.
For more information on the Deering
Estate’s educational and cultural programs,
visit onlin at <www.deeringestate.org>.

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page 29

Page 30

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

May 1 - 14, 2012

www.dbycc.com

VISIT DEERING BAY ON FACEBOOK.

ALL SUMMER LONG AT DEERING BAY

13610 Deering Bay Drive
Coral Gables, Florida 33158
305.254.2111

Scan this code to get
more details

SUMMER MEMBERS MAY ENJOY
Club Membership from May 25 - Oct. 30
Full access to our Arnold Palmer Signature 18-hole Golf Course

First 7 homes built! Don't miss the opportunity to buy Estates by The
Falls, exclusive guard gated private enclave. Six models to choose from
in this new phase. Floor plans from 4,500 to 5,500, lots from 15,000 to
28,000 SF. Luxurious finishes including marble flrs, Barrel tile
roof,crown moldings,impact windows/doors,solid doors,top of the line
SS appliances, generator ready, landscaping, pool & more. Owner is
motivated & open to all offers!
Owner fin. available!

M1491469

IL
A
AV

M1278643

12311 SW 94 AV

Owner is motivated & open to all offers! First 7 homes built! Owner fin.
available! Don't miss the opportunity to buy at pre-construction prices in
Estates by The Falls, exclusive guard gated private enclave. Six models
to choose from in this new phase. Floor plans from 4,500 to 5,500, lots
from 15,000 to 28,000 SF. Luxurious finishes including marble & wood
flrs, Barrel tile roof,crown moldings,impact windows/doors,solid
doors,top of the line SS appliances, generator ready, landscaping, pool &
more.

NG
I
ND
PE

A1562200

13020 SW 70 AV

Stunning 5 bd 4 bth on Palmetto island in Pinecrest, on canal. This residence boasts spacious & elegant kitchen with adjacent family room, dining room with pocket doors to kitchen, crema marfil flooring in living
areas with magnificent views to a screened in pool & canal. The Grand
Master bedroom is on the first floor with adjacent gym, large enough to
be subdivided into two rooms. On the second floor, this home has 4 large
bedrooms & two baths. Ample closets and hallways, all in walnut hardwood floors.

Description: Tennis anyone? At a great price, Own this sprawling acre
home with lighted tennis court in the Falls/Baptist area. This residence
boasts 5 oversized bedrooms and 3 bathrooms high ceilings, stone fireplace
in family room, split plan, barrel tile roof, oversized covered terrace with
travertine covered deck, pool and privacy in a "cul de sac". Don't miss it!

A1534538

16444 SW 84 ST

Opportunity knocks! Live large in Mediteranea. Spacious 3 BD/2 BA
home in private neighborhood, large eat in kitchen, beautiful arched
entrance and bay window. Excellent opportunity to own in a beautiful
neighborhood. Short Sale.

Page 36

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

May 1 - 14, 2012

Buon Appetito
The culinary staff and the service personnel of
Romanza Trattoria are dedicated to making
your dining a classic, unique experience. The
highest quality of foods are perfectly blended
with the meticulous care of the kitchen staff.
For your meal to reach its ultimate richness of
taste, it must be done in a manner that cannot
be rushed. We pride ourselves on excellence.

Private Parties +
Conference Rooms
14501 South Dixie Highway
(Adjacent to the Quality Inn South of the Falls)

The South Miami Dade Cultural Arts
Center (SMDCAC) in Cutler Bay presents
Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Hamlet, Prince of
Cuba, adapted and directed by Asolo Rep
producing artistic director Michael Donald
Edwards and featuring a Spanish translation
by Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz.
Hamlet, Prince of Cuba will run May 1113. The show will be presented both in
English and Spanish with English supertitles. Spanish with English supertitle performances will be May 11 at 8 p.m. and May
13 at 3 p.m. and English performances will
be Saturday, May 12, at 3 and 8 p.m.
Hamlet, Prince of Cuba will feature guest
artist Frankie J. Alvarez as Hamlet, Gisela
Chípe as Ophelia, Emilio Delgado as
Claudius (known for his performance as Luis
on Sesame Street), Mercedes Herrero as
Gertrude and Andhy Mendez as Laertes.
“The Cuban relationship to Hamlet
came out of being in Florida right now,
and feeling like there is a great disconnect
between the Anglo and the Latino communities,” Edwards said. “That disconnect is
language, so I thought what can we do as
an institution to help bridge our reality
right now.
“The setting came from, as so much of my
work does, from the actors. It was people
driven, rather than just an intellectual idea. It
really came about from meeting these actors
and wanting to access their artistic and intellectual energy. We want audiences in Miami
to have a thrilling time, and to be simply
overwhelmed with the beauty and the power
of these ideas and this story,” Edwards
added.
“The theme of Hamlet will resonate well
with Latino and Caribbean audiences in
Miami and a production presented both in
Spanish and English is a compelling way to
communicate this story to the diverse audience that comprises our community,” said
Eric Fliss, general manager of SMDCAC.
“This powerful story about family, love and
revenge has stood the test of time and a
Cuban Hamlet is a poignant vehicle to
explore these themes found in Shakespeare’s
most famous work.”
Cuban-American playwright and winner
of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, Nilo
Cruz will serve as translator for the production. Cruz’s 2002 play Anna in the Tropics
was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize,
Steinberg Award and two Tony Award nominations.
“The process of translation is an intricate
one,” Cruz said. “As artists we are constantly translating images, emotions, states of
mind, and human behavior to a canvas, a
piece of music or the stage. The word ‘trans-

lation’ is analogous with conversion, interpretation, transformation and change.
“As I began to translate Hamlet, I was
not only interested in deciphering
Shakespeare’s language and discerning
truth in the realm of his ideas, but also in
transmitting the seductiveness of his
words; to honor ‘the thing’ in the play, the
arousal of complex and dangerous emotions that are contained deep within the
human psyche,” Cruz continued.
“In this rendition of Hamlet, the nakedness of words, without the ornamentation of
iambic pentameters, became more of an irresistible invitation to interpret. Here is a
Hamlet in a Cuba that allows him to break
from the prism of rhymes to embrace the
dark sounds of his restless soul. Here, the
‘academic spectacles’ used in most Spanish
translations of Shakespeare’s plays have
been removed to allow his tempestuous lyricism to rise for a Latino audience.”
Perhaps the most well-known piece in
Shakespeare’s canon, Hamlet has captivated
playgoers for more than 400 years. Now,
Miami audiences will be among the first to
see a distinctively Cuban Hamlet which
reveals new perspectives on the classic
work, all while staying true to the essence of
Shakespeare’s original story.
This new adaptation is a fresh and stunning portrayal of a son’s struggle to pursue
justice for father, and the consequences that
threaten to destroy the lives of those he
loves.
The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts
Centers is located at 10950 SW 211 St.; telephone 786-573-5316.

50% DISCOUNT IN SUMMER CAMP for new students
(PK3-3rd Grade) who enroll in our 2012-2013 School Year.

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Page 38

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

May 1 - 14, 2012

Cancer nonprofit to celebrate
11th annual Day of Caring
BY JOHN KISKINIS

This year’s 11th annual Day of Caring
for Breast Cancer Awareness, a locally
organized daylong event designed to educate, empower and give hope to those
affected by breast cancer, will take place
on Saturday, May 12, at the
Intercontinental Hotel in downtown
Miami.
Each year the South Florida community
gathers to celebrate the lives of women
battling breast cancer. Medical professionals will host morning seminars on survivor stress management, reconstructive
surgery, preventive nutrition, and alternative treatments, as well as a discussion on
the psychological after effects of breast
cancer. The guest speaker will be Dee Dee
Ricks, founder of RICKS/Consulting
Group Inc. and a breast cancer survivor.
A gourmet lunch will be served followed by an exciting fashion show.
However, the models in this fashion show

will not be typical runway models —
these models, both men and women, are
survivors of breast cancer.
“Our goal is to have women recognize
that beauty and life can continue after
cancer,” said Ann Kinstler, chair. “We
want people to leave knowing that they
can and will battle through it.”
Enjoy a silent auction with such items
as a $5,000 wedding dress, airline tickets
and restaurant certificates available.
Sponsors of this year’s Day of Caring for
Breast Cancer Awareness include
Advanced Medical Specialties, Baptist
Health South Florida and Susan G.
Komen for the Cure Miami/Fort
Lauderdale.
Registration at the Intercontinental
Hotel in Miami starts at 7:30 a.m. and
events run until 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $70.
Donations are tax deductible and CEU
credits are available. For more information, visit <www.dayofcaringsfl.org> or
call 786-222-7306.

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page 39

Page 40

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

South Miami Cardiology
is pleased to welcome
Dr. Eric Schroeder into their practice.
Dr. Schroeder has expertise in general
cardiology and cardiac, peripheral, and
structural heart interventions.
He is joining a well established group of
cardiologists. South Miami Cardiology
includes Drs. Romeo Majano, Matthew
Snow, and Joshua Harris. Members of
the group have expertise in preventative
cardiac care, Echocardiography, Nuclear
Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology,
and Vascular Medicine.
We believe in strong doctor-patient
relationships.
Dr. Schroeder:
Board Certified in Internal Medicine,
Cardiology, Nuclear Cardiology, and
Interventional Cardiology

Now Accepting New Patients | Se habla espanol
Same day appointments available | Seen by doctor at every visit

Magic City Casino, Miami’s first casino
to offer Las Vegas style slot machines,
now is the first and only casino in the state
of Florida to offer “live-action” Roulette.
The Organic Roulette games, manufactured by Interblock Europe, feature Las
Vegas style live Roulette wheels, complete
with elegant styling and electronic displays to create some of the most distinctive machines in the casino market.
“We are so proud to be able to offer this
unique type of gaming to our customers,”
said Scott Savin, chief operating officer of
Magic City Casino. “To be the only casino
in Florida to have these incredible games
is really an accomplishment for us. The
games themselves are impeccably
designed and really bring our gaming
operation to a whole new level.”
Magic City Casino currently has two
Roulette units, which host a total of 18
stations for play. The units seat six and
12 players centered around a dynamic
Roulette wheel that can produce between
60 and 80 results per hour. Under the
wheel, a central computer system controls all components for operating the
wheel and communicates with the individual stations. Surrounding the wheel is
a glass dome, which features a carbon
fiber rim and is embellished with

Swarovski crystals.
The stations themselves each feature a
bright, crisp monitor for placing bets,
along with ergonomically designed arm
and footrests, giving the machines an
ultra-sleek look.
The Roulette wheels are only the latest
in Magic City Casino’s ever-evolving
game offerings. Magic City Casino has
held exclusive rights to offer other games,
including the innovative products of
Incredible Technologies and Integrated
Systems Design. The exclusive on the
Interblock Organic Roulette games is an
even more significant milestone, as these
are live-action, dynamic machines that
feature all the components of a live table
game.
Magic City Casino, located at 450 NW
37 Ave. in Miami, offers free parking, with
valet parking available as well.
Magic City Casino features 800 Las
Vegas-style slot machines, 18-table Poker
Room, outdoor concert amphitheater, seasonal live greyhound racing and multiple
food and beverage outlets, among other
state-of-the-art amenities. The casino is
open every day — Sunday through
Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. and
Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 a.m.
For more information call 305-6493000 or visit online at <www.magiccitycasino.com>.

Miami-Dade
County
Property
Appraiser Pedro J. Garcia is appealing to
homeowners who last year benefited from
the additional homestead exemption for
persons 65 and older (more commonly
called the Senior Citizen’s Exemption) to
file their renewal applications for 2012.
Although the deadline to file timely
applications ended Mar. 1, Garcia said his
office will accept late applications for the
senior exemption. The Senior Citizen’s
Exemption can reduce overall property
taxes by $500 or more each year.
To qualify for the 2012 Senior
Exemption benefit, the adjusted gross
income cannot exceed $27,030. This
limit applies to everyone who lives in
the house whether they are owners or
not. Garcia points out that in most
cases social security income does not
count towards qualifying for this benefit. He is advising seniors filing for the
exemption to check the “Adjusted
Gross Income line” on their Federal

Tax Return to verify actual income
amounts.
Since December, the Property
Appraiser’s Office has sent notices to
42,341 seniors who received the benefit
in 2011, reminding them that unlike the
homestead exemption, this benefit does
not automatically renew and they must
re-apply for 2012.
Garcia noted that 6,997 seniors still
have not filed renewals for 2012.
To file your senior renewal application,
visit either the Downtown Miami or
South Dade offices of the Property
Appraiser: Stephen P. Clark Government
Center, 111 NW First St., Suite 710,
Public Information Counter, or South
Dade Government Center, 10710 SW 211
St. in Cutler Bay, Suite 207, Public
Information Counter.
Renewal applications also can be filed
online at the Property Appraiser’s website at <www.miamidade.gov/pa/exemptions.asp>. First-time applications have
to be filed in person at either of the listed
offices.

Page 43

Safe motherhood begins before delivery
Regular doctor visits during pregnancy ensure good health for mother and baby
By Alberto Sirven, M.D.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than six million babies are
born in the U.S. each year. Some women may experience a complication of some sort during their pregnancy or delivery. Others may have diseases and disorders they didn’t know about until they became
pregnant. This factor makes early intervention crucial in order to identify and treat any of those problems
early. That is also why prenatal care – regular doctor visits during pregnancy, starting as early as possible
– is so critical to both mom and baby.
What happens during the first prenatal visit?
Preparing to deliver a healthy baby with minimal risk to the mother begins long before birth. During the
first doctor visit, the OB/GYN will establish the date the fetus was conceived and project the delivery date.
This step helps both physician and mother prepare for milestones during the pregnancy. The doctor will
conduct a series of tests to determine the expectant mother’s overall condition and identify any areas of
concern. Ideally, family members will accompany the mother on this first visit so the doctor can prepare a
detailed family medical history.
Most women begin their prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy and visit the doctor about once
a month during the first six months. In the final trimester, visits should every two to three weeks.
Many potentially serious or life-threatening conditions, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or
Rh factor concerns, may be prevented or minimized if caught early.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes, like regular diabetes, is an increase in blood sugar. It emerges during pregnancy
as a woman’s body fails to respond to the insulin it is secreting. Gestational diabetes can increase the
risk of having a very large baby. Women with this condition need careful monitoring of their glucose level.
Sometimes this can be achieved with dietary changes alone, but for some women it may have to be controlled with both diet and medications.
Gestational diabetes may subside after the delivery of the baby; however, the woman may develop diabetes later in life, so regular follow-up with her primary care physician is important.
What is preeclampsia?
Another condition that can show up in a previously healthy woman is preeclampsia, the onset of hypertension (high blood pressure) and protein in the urine. This usually happens after the 20th week of
pregnancy, usually around the seventh or eighth month. What’s different about uncontrolled preeclampsia
that occurs during pregnancy is that the woman may have seizures, which is a very dangerous, life-threatening situation. Symptoms may include headaches, blurry vision, pain underneath the right breast or
upper mid-stomach area, and increased weight gain over a short period of time. It’s important to note that
many women do not manifest any symptoms at all. Frequent blood pressure checks can help identify
this potentially serious condition early. Regular blood pressure medications are used to treat preeclampsia
during pregnancy. During labor, the doctor may administer magnesium sulfate intravenously to minimize
the risk of seizures.
How does the Rh factor impact pregnancy?
The Rh factor indicates the presence or absence of a certain type of antigen on the surface of red
blood cells. Rh-positive means a person carries the antigen; Rh-negative means she does not. When an
Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive fetus, her body may become sensitized by the baby’s blood
and create antibodies that “attack” the baby. This may cause serious complications for the baby, such as
brain damage or even death.
During regular prenatal care, Rh-negative mothers are monitored carefully for signs of these antibodies.
Around the 28th week of pregnancy, the doctor may recommend an injection of immunoglobin, a substance
that helps desensitize the mother and stop the creation of antibodies. The mother receives a second shot
after delivery to help protect her from this condition during future pregnancies.
How can a woman remain as healthy and comfortable as possible while pregnant?
One key to a comfortable pregnancy is appropriate weight gain. A woman at her ideal body weight can
gain 25 to 35 pounds comfortably. An underweight woman may gain up to 40 pounds. However, an overweight woman should limit her weight gain to 10 to 15 pounds. Carrying multiple babies increases the
weight-gain ranges.
Minor aches and pains and nausea can typically be handled with doctor-approved, over-the-counter
remedies. Prescription medications should always be cleared with the doctor. Prenatal vitamins are safe
and recommended.
Drinking enough water on a daily basis is a must for the pregnant woman. On average, a woman who
is not pregnant needs eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day to stay hydrated. A pregnant woman should
drink even more than that to help prevent premature cramping and bladder infections, which are risks
during pregnancy.
Smoking, drinking alcohol and using recreational drugs should be prohibited during pregnancy. These
can cause serious complications for both mom and baby. Many physicians even recommend limiting caffeine intake to about 300 mg per day, or about one cup of coffee.
For women accustomed to exercising, continued exercise, within reason, is safe and healthy. Weight
gain and changes in the body’s center of gravity may make some movements awkward or uncomfortable.
Use common sense and keep the heart rate lower than 150 beats per minute. Remember to drink plenty
of water.
Remember that your OB/GYN is available throughout your pregnancy, not just during scheduled visits.
Pick up the phone any time you have a question or feel that something’s not right. If you develop pain,
bleeding or leaking, or notice that the baby has stopped moving, call your doctor immediately, as these
are important warning signs.
Finding a doctor you like and trust is the first step in developing an effective plan for prenatal care.
Baptist Health South Florida provides free referrals to more than 1,000 physicians on its staff, including
obstetricians and gynecologists. For assistance in finding a physician, call 786-596-6557. For an online
overview of prenatal care, visit the National Institutes of Health at www.nih.gov.
Alberto Sirven, M.D., is an obstetrician/gynecologist and medical director of the Beautiful Beginnings
Family Birthing Suites at West Kendall Baptist Hospital.

Page 44

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

The Hermanni Law Group
Celebrates Opening of Gables Offices

By
y Ann
n Lino
The Hermanni Law Group celebrated the opening of its new Coral
Gables offices with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 20, 2012,
with City of Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason presiding over the ceremony. Present at a lavish party held on the third floor terrace of
the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new offices were more than 100 business owners and
leaders in the community including Emilio Sauna, President of
Gables Hispanic Cultural Foundation, Ernesto Perez, CEO of Dade
Medical College, Enriquez Lopez, Academic Dean School of Continuing Adult Education at Dade Medical College, Eddie Gonzalez,
Hialeah Commissioner, Jeff Stay, Executive Director of BNI, Stanley Davidson, President of Gables International Plaza and his son
Jeff Davidson, among others.
The Hermanni Law Group is an international, full-service law firm
practicing exclusively in the area of immigration law. It is currently
composed of five full-time in-house attorneys: Kurt Hermanni, Senior Partner; Norma Lorenzo, Managing Attorney; Kerry Donohue,
Associate Attorney; Erica Perez-Luque, Associate Attorney; and
Karamat Qayum, Associate Attorney. Additionally, the Hermanni
Law Group has Of-Counsel throughout the nation in cities including
but not limited to: Philadelphia, New York, Houston, Los Angeles
and San Francisco. The firm is focused exclusively in the practice
of immigration law allowing its attorneys to concentrate on complex
legal issues involved in deportation defense cases, asylums, marriage petitions, business visas, national visa waivers, hardship
waivers and consulate processing.
The Hermanni Law Group is located at 2655 LeJeune Road, Ste.
800, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Ph: 305 640-8222 or Mobile 786271-6699. Visit our website at www.legalizationlawyer.com.

May 1 - 14, 2012

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page 45

When you go to the beach,
don’t assume sand is safe
BY LEE STEPHENS

On warm days, the beach seems an ideal
destination for family rest and relaxation.
Who hasn’t built a sand castle or been
buried up to the neck in sand? However, that
family fun has a dark side — sand can harbor
illness-causing microbes. Unfortunately,
there are no guidelines for sand quality at
recreational sites.
Now, environmental scientists at the
University of Miami (UM) and at Northern
Illinois University have created a reference
guide for potentially harmful germs in sand,
similar to the guidelines set by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency for marine
water. The report is published in the
American
Chemical Society
journal
Environmental Science & Technology.
“These values can be used by beach managers to make decisions concerning sand
quality,” said Helena Solo-Gabriele, professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural
and Environmental Engineering at the UM
College of Engineering and principal investigator for this project.
“That way, when regulators are faced with
a decision about a potential health risk, there
is a guideline available with which to decide
whether or not the levels of microbes found in
the sand are cause for concern.”
Dogs, birds and cats visiting a beach are
common sources of bacteria in the sand.
“Exposures to high levels of certain
microorganisms could cause gastrointestinal
illness in humans, while infectious risks vary
in different microorganism,” said Tomoyuki
Shibata, assistant professor in the Public
Health Program and Institute for the Study of
the Environment, Sustainability & Energy, at
Northern Illinois University and first author
of the study.
The researchers wanted to determine what
levels of bacteria, or pathogens, found in
beach sand could pose a health risk for beach-

goers, explained Solo-Gabriele, who also is
Co-PI of the Oceans and Human Health
Center at the UM Rosenstiel School of
Marine & Atmospheric Science.
“The environments in the sand and water
are very different,” Solo-Gabriele said. “The
sand provides more protection against the
effects of solar radiation, which has a tendency to inactivate microbes in water. Sand
also may protect microbes from predators
(other microbes) that are found exclusively
in water.”
To develop the guidelines, the scientists
ran one million simulations of the number of
microbes in each gram of sand, the transfer of
sand from hand to mouth and the ingestion
rate. The researchers determined the risk of
having 19 cases per 1,000 beachgoers — the
level used by the EPA for swimming in
marine recreational waters.
The team also documented the levels of
pathogens found in the sand at Hobie Cat
Beach in Miami. The findings indicate that
levels of harmful microbes at the beach site
were low, when compared to the reference
levels and therefore safe for beachgoers.
However, studies have shown that children
have a higher illness risk than adults from
beach and sand exposures. For that reason, the
researchers now will focus on studies of kids’
play behavior in sand to better estimate the
acceptable levels of microbes that can cause
diseases in children.
“Parents of young children don’t need to
overreact to our findings and they can reduce
their child’s infectious risk by basic hygiene
practices such as hand washing before eating
or drinking and taking a shower,” Shibata
said.
The report is titled “Quantitative Microbial
Risk Assessment of Human Illness from
Exposure to Marine Beach Sand.” The study
was funded by the National Science
Foundation through the Oceans and Human
Health Center at UM’s Rosenstiel School.

Any Lighting Purchase with this coupon
LIGHT BULBS UNLIMITED / 12451 SOUTH DIXIE HIGHWAY
305-235-2852 • NOT VALID WITH OTHER OFFERS OR PRIOR PURCHASES.
OFFER EXPIRES 6/30/12 • *DOES NOT APPLY TO SPECIAL SALE ITEMS.

12451 South Dixie Highway • Miami • 305.235.2852

Zoo Miami has announced the launch of
the Zoo Miami mobile application as well as
free Wi-Fi in four large areas of the zoo.
The mobile app is free to download and is
available for the iPhone at the App Store and
the Android platform at the Android
Marketplace under the search term Zoo Miami.
The Zoo Miami mobile app features:
• A GPS enabled map displaying guest’s
location and includes a “Near Me” button
which lists the zoo’s animal habitats, concessions, restrooms and more in proximity to the
guest’s location.
• The “Calendar” button features a 90-Day
Planner that allows guests to create a personalized schedule of upcoming special events.
• The application’s homepage includes
useful information such as: “Plan Your
Visit,” “Daily Adventures,” “Exhibits &
Attractions,” “Become a Member,”
“Donate,” “Become a Volunteer” and a special tool called “Friend Finder” that allows
guests to locate their friends at the zoo.
• The “Animals” button provides guests with
photos and facts about Zoo Miami animals as
well as the option to “Adopt Me” which allows
guests to participate in the Zoological Society of
Florida’s Adopt-An-Animal program. Some of

the animals even have videos.
• The application’s “More” button provides users with helpful information about
the zoo’s social media and FAQ.
“In order to enhance the guest experience, we
designed this mobile application and implemented the wireless connection,” said Ron Magill,
Zoo Miami director of communication. “We
want the application to add another dimension to
our guests’ visits and we want to give them the
option of remaining connected during their visit.”
Zoo Miami also is offering free Wi-Fi
service. The initiative by the Miami-Dade
County Parks and Recreation Department
allows any Wi-Fi enabled smart phone, tablet
or computer user, regardless of carrier, to
connect to the Wi-Fi network.
Zoo Miami guests will have access for two
blocks (200 feet) around each one of these
areas: Amazon & Beyond’s Village Plaza,
Children’s Zoo, Oasis Grille and around the
Zoo Administrative building.
Zoo Miami is located at 12400 SW 152 St.
General zoo admission is $15.95 per adult
and $11.95 per child (3-12), plus tax.
Children under 2, Zoo members and parking
are free. Zoo Miami’s hours are 9:30 a.m.5:30 p.m.; ticket booths close at 4 p.m.
For more information visit online at
<www.zoomiami.org>.

10% OFF $25 OFF
Any Sheet Music,
Books and Printed
Material.
Must present this flyer to redeem. Exp. 5/31/12.

Any Purchase
of $200
or More.

Must present this flyer to redeem. Exp. 5/31/12.

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page 49

Honda Ridgeline pickup adds Sport model for 2012
Ron Beasley
LET’S TALK CARS
The Honda Ridgeline has been around
since 2006. It was unique when it was
introduced as a four-door, five-passenger
pickup truck and it continues in that mold
for 2012.
Updates for this year include a new Sport
model to complement the RT, RTS and
RTL models. The new Ridgeline Sport is
distinguished by black 18-inch aluminum
alloy wheels; a black honeycomb grille
with black surround; a leather-wrapped
steering wheel with audio controls, auxiliary audio input jack, fog lights, rear privacy glass, all weather floor mats, and black
headlight and brake light housings.
The half-ton Ridgeline is built with a
closed-box, unitized body for a nice combination of capability, interior roominess, a
comfortable ride and solid performance.
With independent front and rear suspen-

sion, it delivers a wide range of conventional pickup capabilities and has a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds and a
half-ton payload rating.
Under the hood, there’s an all-aluminum,
250 hp SOHC 3.5-liter VTEC engine with
variable valve timing for a broad power
band. The five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission has Grade
Logic Control to help maintain the most
appropriate gear when going uphill or
downhill. The fully automatic Variable
Torque Management four-wheel drive system provides solid operation in all weather
conditions, while also improving on-road
and towing performance by distributing
torque to all four wheels as needed.
A five-foot-long cargo area measures
49.5 inches wide between the wheel wells,
20.7 inches deep and 60 inches long (79
inches with the load-supporting tailgate in
the down position). Ridgeline is available
with a many accessories and can conveniently accommodate motorcycles and
ATVs. There are eight tie-down locations
and four cargo area lights.
A dual-action tailgate opens down for
traditional access to the cargo area or to the

side for ease-of-access to the 8.5-cubicfoot In-Bed Trunk. Large side mirrors aid
rear vision when towing a boat or trailer.
On the inside, the interior is spacious and
the driving position is comfortable, with
easy access to large and easy-to-use controls. The large multi-function center console has a sliding armrest and sliding lower
tray — each with a hidden storage area.
Other console storage areas accommodate
items both large and small, such as mobile
phones, beverages, compact discs and
portable digital music players. The 60/40

lift-up rear seats have a storage area underneath large enough to accommodate a golf
bag. Plus, the rear seating area can quickly
convert for cargo by lifting up the seats.
Pricing on the 2012 Honda Ridgeline
starts at $29,250 for the base RT and ranges
to $37,180 for the RTL with Navigation.
Ron Beasley is the automotive editor for
Miami’s Community Newspapers. He may
be contacted by calling 305-662-2277, ext.
261, or by addressing email correspondence to <LetsTalkCars@aol.com>.

Page 50

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

May 1 - 14, 2012

May 1 - 14, 2012

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

Page 51

Save your home with Spray Rite

By Susan Smith
Protect your home and family with the help of Spray Rite Pest Control.
Augusto Odio who goes by “Augie” is the friendly and accessible business owner
of Spray Rite for over 30 years now. “What makes us stand out is the personal
service and attention we offer our clients.
There is no middle man and you do not have to go through a bunch of
transferred phone calls to find someone who can help. We are a small company
that puts huge attention on customer service. We get to know our clients and
they depend on us with trust and confidence.”
Highly trained certified professionals are available to service both indoor and
outdoor pest control needs. Whether it is a possible indoor termite infestation
or spiral white fly damaging outdoor plants, the environmentally friendly industry
educated folks at Spray Rite can take care of it fast, at a reasonable price, and
guaranteed.
“Some of the greatest concerns our customers have today relates to the white
fly epidemic attacking ficus trees, gumbo limbos, palms, black olive trees and
more. If your ficus is dropping leaves out of season or if you find underneath
the leaf that there is has a spidery white coating then you have an infestation
problem,” said CEO Augie.
“I have seen properties in Dade, Broward and Monroe counties where every
bush, tree, and palm was infected. It is an absolute shame. The white fly looks
like a fruit fly and is clearly visible to the human eye. Prevention is the best early
solution but if you treat it properly you can save affected plants. Regular visual
inspections are necessary to keep gardens infestation free.”
Augie also offers tips to homeowners for preventive indoor pest control.
Weather stripping ceilings, doors, attic openings and crawl spaces are an
effective way to keep creepy crawly critters outside of your home.
“The worst news you might hear from a pest management professional is
that termites have caused major structural damage to their home. Termites can
ruin furniture, wood panels and destroy papers, books and clothing, even leather
shoes.”
Augie says Spray Rite specializes in the latest alternative to tenting, the Borate
Treatment, a new, environmentally friendly borax application that is also a wood
preservative.
“Our prices are very competitive but customers should look for value, not
price. What appears to be a bargain may need a second look. We guarantee
satisfaction and strive to provide personal attention to every job, no matter how
small or how large. Our goal is to gain the customer’s trust.”
Call the licensed, bonded, and insured friendly folks at Spray Rite Pest Control
for your free estimate today and learn how to protect your home from
unwelcome guests. 305-598-3866.

Pictured are the new owners of Lots of Lox (l-r) Steve, Jimmy and Nick Poulos.

Feeding South Florida reaches out
with campaign to help feed hungry
BY DUREE ROSS

In an effort to meet the needs of the nearly 1 million residents of Broward, MiamiDade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties
who are food insecure, Feeding South
Florida (formerly Daily Bread Food Bank)
is holding its “Fighting Hunger, Feeding
Hope” donation campaign which continues
through May 23.The six-week campaign is
designed with a goal to raise $1 million to
feed residents in southeast Florida communities who are hungry.
Feeding South Florida now is in a time
of transition. During the economic downturn, the need for food donations has
increased while resources have diminished.
Transportation costs to deliver food to
member agencies have exploded.
Plus, unfortunately, one of Feeding
South Florida’s 14 refrigerated trucks was
stolen recently and the refrigeration unit
was stolen from another truck at the organization’s Miami warehouse. Feeding
South Florida’s need for donations and
support to feed the hungry is now greater
than ever.
Simultaneously, Feeding South Florida
is in a time of opportunity. New sources of
food, particularly fresh produce and fruit
are available, and Feeding South Florida’s
nearly 600 member agencies serving families in need from Jupiter to Key West are
asking for the organization’s help to deliver the food.
Coral Gables-based advertising agency
VSBrooks Advertising, which provides inkind services to Feeding South Florida, is
producing a 30-second commercial about
Feeding South Florida’s need for support.
“Right now, a child, adult or elderly per-

son is hungry only 15 minutes from where
most South Floridians live,” said Maria
Millares, president of the board of directors
of Feeding South Florida. “No person
deserves to go to bed hungry.
“With the recent state of the economy,
the need to deliver food, and the unfortunate theft of our truck and refrigeration
system, we are asking local residents and
corporations to reach out with their hearts
and minds to provide donations to feed the
hungry.”
Through the “Fighting Hunger, Feeding
Hope” campaign, Feeding South Florida is
asking local residents and corporations to
consider the following:
$1 = Helps Feeding South Florida’s
member agencies save $15 in their food
budgets.
$5 = Text FEED to 52000 and provide
35 pounds of food.
$15 = 90 people in need can go to a food
pantry to receive food provided by Feeding
South Florida.
$25 = Seven toddlers will be fed twice a
day for one week at a children’s services
program.
$35 = Two families of four won’t go
hungry for eight days because they can
pick up groceries (milk, bread, pasta, tuna,
peanut butter, vegetables and more) at an
emergency food pantry.
$75 = 112 families of four can have a hot
dinner at a local community kitchen.
$100 = 300 homeless women and children will get a hot dinner and breakfast at a
shelter.
To make donations, call Feeding South
Florida at 1-954-518-1832, visit online at
<www.feedingsouthflorida.org> or text
FEED to 52000 to donate $5.

May 1 - 14, 2012

LOST PET

SERVICES

SERVICES

HELP US
FIND FLUFFY!

TUTORING SERVICES

Lost at Lourdes
Academy on
March 12th.
White female
Shi-tzu/Maltese.
Family
devastated!
REWARD.
305.803.7661

Subject Areas Taught:

HELP WANTED

DO YOU MAKE
100K PER YEAR?
Do you want to?
P/T, Huge Potential
No experience
Call 954-775-2545
HELP WANTED

Looking for
TRUCK DRIVER
with Class A or
Class B License.
Septic Experience
is a plus. Job
includes general
Labor of digging
and lifting heavy
equipment.
Please call
Chapman Septic
Service Inc.
at 305-661-0628
for application.

With my market savvy and knowledge of your
neighborhood, I can sell your home fast and for
top dollar. “Your Real Estate Consultant For Life!” Dr. Patricia Brumley
Realtor - Associate
Call Pat at 305-613-8421, I can make it happen!

Wherever you are in Miami-Dade
County, we will deliver your package
or document at your speed. Peace of
mind comes from knowing that you
have a company that you can trust
to get documents from where you
are to where you need them to be.

Factory Certified • 100% Customer Satisfaction
We have the right products to fit your budget and needs

seniors
7368 N.W. 12 Street.
Miami, FL 33126

Mon – Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm

Free Estimates

305.393.8993

www.rainawayroofing.net

Buying a home?

Buy with an FHA Reverse Mortgage
• No monthly payments!
• No income requirements!
• No credit requirements!
We can even refer you to a Realtor® in your area
that works with buyers and reverse mortgages.
Call me...

SATURDAY, MAY 12th, 5:00pm - 8:00 pm
AT THE LA LEY SPORTS COMPLEX AT
THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD
COME AND CELEBRATE YOUR TEAM’S AND INDIVIDUAL PLAYER
AWARDS AT LA LEY SPORTS WHERE EVERY ATHLETE WINS!
ADMISSION IS FREE TO ALL NOMINEES,
COACHES AND ATHLETIC DIRECTORS.
GENERAL ADMISSION IS $10.00
KIDS 12 AND UNDER ARE FREE
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

WWW.LALEYSPORTS.COM
Categorized:
Minimum of 20 innings pitched, most wins as of 4/21/12

(See more next page)

Page 62

COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM

TOP
HITTERS
2012
IF YOU PLAYED VARSITY BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL
IN MONROE, DADE OR BROWARD

SATURDAY, MAY 12th, 5:00pm - 8:00 pm
AT THE LA LEY SPORTS COMPLEX AT
THE CITY OF HOMESTEAD
COME AND CELEBRATE YOUR TEAM’S AND INDIVIDUAL PLAYER
AWARDS AT LA LEY SPORTS WHERE EVERY ATHLETE WINS!
ADMISSION IS FREE TO ALL NOMINEES,
COACHES AND ATHLETIC DIRECTORS.
GENERAL ADMISSION IS $10.00
KIDS 12 AND UNDER ARE FREE
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

WWW.LALEYSPORTS.COM

Categorized:
40 minimum plate appearances, highest average as of 4/21/12